Rob Blanchflower

Grade

Draft Analysis:

6'4" Height

33 3/4" Arm Length

256LBS. Weight

9 5/8" Hands

Overview

Tight end-defensive end as a Massachusetts prep. Redshirted in 2009. Played all 11 games in 2010, starting four, and caught 21 balls for 179 yards (8.5-yard average) and three touchdowns. Started 8 of 11 games in '11, catching 18-208-1 (11.6). Started all 10 games played in '12 and tallied 43-464-2 (10.8). Did not play against Western Michigan and Bowling Green State (leg). In '13, started 5-of-6 games played and managed 27-313-3 (11.6), though he was bothered by a bilateral sports hernia injury that prevented him from practicing, sidelined him for six games and medically excluded him from any workouts at the combine. Team captain. Was still recovering from surgery at his pro day and scheduled to work out April 23.

Analysis

Strengths

Outstanding size. Competitive run blocker -- drives his legs and works to finish. Tough. Functional pass protector. Lays out for the ball and will sell out his body to make difficult catches. Good career production -- exits school as career receiving leader for a tight end. Smart. Solid special-teams temperament. Respected leader and two-time team captain. Four-year starter.

Weaknesses

Average athletic ability. Can improve beating the jam. Not a quick or savvy route runner. Rounds out of his breaks and can do a better job selling routes with stems and nods. Creates little separation. Takes what he is given after the catch -- limited creativity and elusiveness. Inconsistent hands. Regularly matched up vs. lesser competition. Will be a 24-year-old rookie.

Draft Projection

Round 7-Priority free agent

Bottom Line

A scrappy, tough, competitive 'Y' tight end, Blanchflower was slowed by injury as a senior. However, he possesses the grit to factor in-line in the run game and can become a solid base-blocking No. 3 tight end and short-area receiving option.
-Nolan Nawrocki